How architects are designing new builds to accommodate our living needs

Where will we live in the future? The property market is forever evolving, our housing needs are constantly changing, and our lifestyles, environment and economy is shaping the communities that we live in.

As our population continues to age and climate change threatens the land mass that we can occupy, architects must be innovative in their home designs to accommodate for more inhabitants in urbanised areas. The world's population is set to increase to 11.2 billion by 2100; of this growth, most of this will be within pre-existing cities. In 1930, only 30 per cent of the world's population lived in cities – compared to around 50 per cent today; by 2050, 66.7 per cent of the world's population will live in cities.

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Architects are already developing innovative, unconventional designs that are suitable for our future. As we move forward and replace older designs, new builds will help to accommodate our increasingly complex living-needs.

Building design software specialists, Oasys, explore how architects are coming up with new designs to accommodate our increasingly complex needs:

Alternative materials

Sustainability is becoming a key focus for architects when choosing building materials. Timber is a suitable alternative as CLT (cross laminated timber) regulations are sparse. With its improved strength and stability due to more sophisticated engineering techniques – wooden skyscrapers are becoming a thing of the present – not the future.

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The Cube Building is an example of a new building made from timber. Situated in Hackney, Wenlock Cross it stands at 6,750sq metres and the scheme is a hybrid mix of timber and steel. The building seamlessly blends into grass parks that surround the area, but also looks right at home amongst other urbanised buildings that make up London's metropolitan landscape. As developments progress in the construction and implementation of timber structures, only time will tell how wooden buildings will influence the future of architecture.

Rotating apartment buildings

Dubai is about to become home to the world's first rotating skyscraper. Designed by David Fisher, an Israeli-Italian architect, the apartment block was originally proposed in 2008, but after being put on hold, the structure has now been set for completion by 2020.

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It has been designed to change shape as it rotates. In theory then, the building should never look the same twice. Though each apartment will be able to rotate 360 degrees independently, the speed will be adjustable, and the stationary core will contain the elevator with apartments off-shooting this core.

The building has been designed so that it can power itself with wind turbines between each floor – negating the need for excessive power supplies from fossil fuels. An apartment will not come cheap, with prices set to be at around US $30 million (£22.5 million). This is an exclusive project for those who want to pay the price to be at the forefront of innovation.

Incorporating green spaces

In certain parts of the world, buildings are being built to encourage biodiversity, help tropical space thrive in a natural environment and protect green spaces.

The Oasia Hotel Downtown situated in Singapore is one such example, functioning as a garden among limited green space. This tropical skyscraper counteracts the Central Business District within the Tanjong Pagar area, and is meant to act as a prototype for how urban tropics will function within man-made landscapes.

The building has additional 'ground levels' that provide areas for recreation and social interaction with open sides to allow natural breezes to pass through – eliminating the need of air-conditioning units. The building is also considered a natural haven for wildlife, with an overall green plot ratio of 1,100 per cent – reintroducing biodiversity into the city that was initially driven away through construction.

Innovative light houses

The Nanjing Green Light House is an unconventional light house that is round in structure and able to gain 200 LUX natural daylight for all working spaces – making it one of the first zero carbon buildings in mainland China.

Inspired by China's vast and natural foliage, the natural landscape becomes as important as the building itself. Through natural ventilation techniques, exposed windows and moveable skylights, anyone can enjoy this working space that incorporates natural designs.